Earth’s temperature has varied more over the past 485 million years than previously thought and is strongly linked to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, a study has found.
The research offers the most detailed picture yet of how global temperatures have changed in the 541 million years since the start of the current Phanerozoic Aeon, which is marked by an abundance of fossils. Over the aeon, the global mean temperature has spanned 11°C to 36°C, with colder temperatures associated with lower levels of carbon dioxide, or CO2, and warmer with higher levels
“This research illustrates clearly that carbon dioxide is the dominant control on global temperatures across geological time,” said Jessica Tierney, a paleoclimatologist at the University of Arizona and a co-author of the new paper. “When CO2 is low, the temperature is cold; when CO2 is high, the temperature is warm.”
The study also dismisses the idea that the Earth has a “tropical thermostat”, with a maximum temperature that the tropics can reach, Emily Judd, the lead author of the paper and a former postdoctoral researcher at the National Museum of Natural History and the University of Arizona, told The National. “In the 1990s and early 2000s, several studies generated data, based on the shells from foraminifera – or little calcified “sea bugs”, from warm intervals in Earth’s past with elevation CO2 concentrations that suggested tropical temperatures weren’t that much warmer than today,” she said. “This sparked some controversy over whether there was an upper limit for tropical warmth.”
However, researchers have since shown the data had been altered by processes that occurred after the organisms had died. “In our study, we carefully screen all the data that went into our analysis to make sure that any data that were potentially altered by processes occurring after the death of the organism were excluded,” she said. “Both those subsequent studies that carefully examined each specimen and our work dispel the idea of a tropical thermostat, and demonstrate that under elevated CO2 concentrations, Earth’s tropics experience significant warming above their current temperature.”
The findings indicate that Earth’s current global mean temperature of 15°C is cooler than it has been over much of the aeon. But greenhouse gases are warming the planet at a substantially quicker rate than even the fastest warming events of the Phanerozoic. That puts species and ecosystems around the world at risk and is causing a rapid rise in sea levels, the researchers said. Other episodes of rapid climate change during the Phanerozoic have sparked mass extinctions, they added.
Using an approach called data assimilation, researchers combined data from the geologic record and climate models to create a more complete understanding of ancient climates. But while the new paper is the most robust study of temperature change to date, it is far from a finished project, Brian Huber from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, said.
“We all agree that this isn’t the final curve,” he added. “Researchers will continue to uncover additional clues about the deep past, which will help revise this curve down the road.”
Five ways to get on track to reduce your carbon footprint
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
